“Rest assured, we are not questioning Mr. Fort’s interest in tourism or his capabilities,” wrote Johnson. “Rather, our contention is that legally he cannot represent our lodging sector.”
“Since TDC board decisions often appropriate tax dollars, Mr. Fort’s continued presence on the board is problematic,” he wrote. “Decisions that he already has helped the board render – as well as decisions it will render in the future – might well have to be rescinded and reconsidered.”
That instance could prove problematic to the TDC’s efforts to establish the Destination Master Plan, a county-initiated, long-term branding and marketing campaign for countywide tourism, which is the county’s strongest economic asset.
“We’ve got some big issues coming up regarding the Destination Master Plan for tourism for the county and we need to make sure we have the right balance on the board,” said Johnson.
As of Wednesday, McCollum’s office had not reviewed the letter or the merits of Johnson’s claims.
The TDC is a nine-member, county-appointed board that oversees the appropriation of funding derived through the Tourist Development Tax, paid by tourists for overnight accommodations at hotels, motels, apartment hotels, rooming houses, RV parks/campgrounds and condominiums in St. Johns County. Fort was appointed to the TDC for a four year term.
One of the more significant intents of the TDC is primarily for the purpose of and relating to the development, advancement, furtherance, improvement or promotion of tourism, according to the county Web site.
March 27th 2009 - 2:37PM